A Guide To The Updated Personal Protection Order Regime in Singapore in 2025

Introduction

From 2 January 2025, the majority of the Women’s Charter (Family Violence and Other Matters) (Amendment) Act 2023 came into force.

The new Personal Protection Order (PPO) framework now explicitly recognizes emotional and psychological abuse and adds new protective tools such as No-Contact Orders, Stay-Away Orders, Electronic Monitoring Orders, and Emergency Orders.

What is a Personal Protection Order?

A PPO restrains an offending family member from committing family violence and can include conditions aimed at keeping the person applying for the PPO safe.

The Old Regime for Personal Protection Orders (prior to 2 January 2025)

Under the pre-2025 amendment PPO regime, the definition of “family violence” for the purpose of obtaining a PPO covered causing hurt, wrongful confinement, placing someone in fear of hurt, and continual harassment intended to cause mental anguish.

The orders generally granted by the Court were:

• Expedited Orders
• Personal Protection Orders
• Domestic Exclusion Orders
• Counselling Orders

The New Regime for Personal Protection Orders

1) Wider definition of “family violence”

Section 58B of the Women’s Charter expressly states that the updated definition of “family violence” includes physical, sexual, and emotional or psychological abuse (e.g., tormenting, intimidating, harassing, or acts causing mental harm such as suicidal thoughts).

This aligns with public discussions on coercive control that preceded these amendments.

2) More protection tools you can ask for

Alongside the previous orders of personal protection orders, expedited orders, and domestic exclusion orders, the court may now make:

• No-Contact Order: bans visiting or communicating with the protected person.
• Stay-Away Order: keeps the respondent away from places the survivor frequents.
• Mandatory Treatment Order: psychiatric treatment for up to 36 months.
• Electronic Monitoring Order: tracks whereabouts when risk is high.
• Assessment Order: requires assessment if someone is at risk.
• Removal Order: allows safe removal of protected persons where necessary.

3) Fast emergency protection by Protectors

A Protector (appointed by MSF) is a person with the appropriate qualifications and experience to act on behalf of victims of family violence. Protectors can issue short-term Emergency Orders when there’s danger of family violence in the next 14 days—and can include emergency no-contact or stay-away terms.

4) Who counts as a “family member”

Section 58A of the Women’s Charter updates the new definition of “family member”. The old regime previously bundled together “other relative” and “incapacitated person” into one catch-all category, both subject to the court’s opinion.

The new regime splits the catch-all into two distinct clauses:

• One for relatives; and
• One for incapacitated persons.

Both require a “should be regarded” assessment, but the distinction clarifies who qualifies.

For clarity, we reproduce Section 58A of the Women’s Charter below:

58A. P is a “family member” of Q and vice versa if —

(a) P is the spouse or former spouse of Q;

(b) P is a child (including an adopted child or stepchild) of Q;

(c) P is the father or mother of Q;

(d) P is the father‑in‑law or mother‑in‑law of Q;

(e) P is a brother or sister of Q;

(f) P —

(i) is a relative of Q (including a relative through marriage or adoption); and

(ii) should in the circumstances be regarded as a member of Q’s family; or

(g) P —

(i) is wholly or partially incapacitated or infirm because of physical or mental disability or ill health or old age; and

(ii) should in the circumstances be regarded as a member of Q’s family.

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If you are contemplating your options with respect to applying for or disputing a Personal Protection Order, we can assist.

You can find out more about our bespoke Personal Protection Order packages and make an appointment with us here.

Alternatively, you may wish to get in touch by contacting us at 6550 6359 or through our contact form below and we will follow up with you regarding your matter.